Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-07-01
THE STANDARD.


In order to define what constitutes a
standardized trotter, we publish the
rules below. There are few persons
who yet cling to the standard foolish
ness, and it is to them that we now say
word. First, there are thousands of
horses which do not come within the pre-
scribed limits formulated by the commit
tee appointed to make the standard rules,
but which are often as much superior to
those which do, as Geo. Washington was
superior to Guiteau. For example, Flora
Temple. of . :l9i fame as far back as 1859,
was not standard bred; and if all the
conditions could be transferred from 1859
to 1856, even then she would not be stand
ard bred. Were there no standard bred
trotters in those days under our present
rules: Most certainly: but Flora Tenn
pie could easily defeat every last one of
them. Rarus. of 2:l34 fame, foaled in
1867. was not then, nor is he now stand
ard-bred. But he has defeated hund-
red standardized trotters and could al
y
hundred standardized trotters. Mr..
Bonner's Pocahontas was not standard
bred; she made herself standard; and
yet her sire and dam had proven them
selves to be the greatest performers of
their day and generation. Ethan Allen,
her sire, and Pocahontas. her dam, are
both too well known to need word from
us; but the fact remains that they were
the superiors of all or nearly all the
standardized horses of their day. Miss
Russell is not standardized, and yet she
has produced the most famous trotters
the world has ever seen-Maud 5, 2 0SS :,
Nutwood = :lSi, Cora Belmont , ~, and
others. Suppose then that Mr. AleXan-
der. her owner, had said. Miss Russell
is not standardized | therefore cannot
afford to breed her. as her produce will
not command prices to warrant the eX-
pense." In which case we should have
heard nothing of the wonderful Maud 5.
nor the phenomenal sire of trotters, Nut
wood. Midnight was not standardized,
and yet she produces Jay-Eye-See, 2:l0,
trotter equal if not superior to any
which has appeared. Neither the sire
or dam of Johnston :0Gt were standard
bred; but those two outcasts produced
the greatest horse, by the records, which
has yet appeared. In view of these facts
can any sensible man wonder that we
concluded to drop this standardized
nonsense?
First. Any stallion that has himself
record of two minutes and thirty seconds
(2:3O) or better, provided any of his get
has record of , 40 or better, or pro-
vided his sire or his dam, his grandsire
or his grandam is already standard
animal.
Second. Any mare or gelding that
has ii record of 2 80 or better.
Third. Any horse that is the sire of
two animals with record of 2 80 or
better.
Fourth. ANY horse that is the sire of
one animal with a record of , 80 or bet
ter, provided he has either of the follow
ing qualifications /. Record himself
of , 30 or better 2. Is the sire of two
other animals with record of 40
or better. 3. Has a sire or dam, grand
sire or grandam that is already stand
ard animal.
Fifth. Any mare that has produced
an animal with record of 80 or better.
Sixth. The progeny of standard
horse when out of standard mare.
Seventh. The progeny of a standard
horse out of mare by standard horse.
Eighth. The progeny of standard
horse when out of mare whose dam is
a standard mare.
Ninth. Any mare that has record of
2 40 or better, and whose sire or dam,
grandsire or grandam is standard ami
NAL.
Tenth. A record to wagon of 2 35 or
better shall be regarded as equal to a
80 record.
Nal -.